City sides to meet in round two

Round two of the Revital Fertilisers premier cricket one-day competition gets under way tomorrow with two form teams going head to head.

Both New Plymouth Old Boys (NPOB) and New Plymouth Marist United (NPMU) are coming off convincing wins in round one and will look to cement themselves on top of the leaderboard.

An all-round performance saw NPOB secure a comfortable eight-wicket win over Francis Douglas in round one. Meanwhile, NPMU’s victory was built on the run machine that is Dean Robinson who scored his first century of the season – leading his side to a 137-run victory over a disappointing Woodleigh side.

NPOB will look to make two changes to their side this weekend, welcoming back former Taranaki wicket-keeper Jackson Braddock-Pajo and former Buller Hawke Cup representative Max McDonald. They will replace the opening pair of Ben Mitchell, who has to work, and half-century maker from round one Myles Simkin, who has secured tickets to the Rugby World Cup.

NPMU, on the other hand, will field the same eleven as round one.

This round-two clash is a replay of last season’s final and could well be a precursor to what may come in December this year, with the winning team holding the advantage.

Irishman Ross Bryans dominated the final last year with a devastating spell with the new ball and for NPOB to be successful they will be hoping he can do the same again.

Old Boys have any number of players who can produce a match-winning spell with the ball, including Taranaki skipper Mattie Thomas.

NPMU will be hoping Taranaki opener Dean Robinson can continue his early season form and negate the bowling threats NPOB offer. If he can do this they have a middle order that can punish you late in the innings with Ryan Watson, Jarred Cunningham and Jacob Richards.

In other matches, Woodleigh and Inglewood square off at Sutherland Park with both teams desperate for a win after first-round losses. The loser here will be on the back foot to reach the semifinals.

FDMC welcome Stratford to the school ground with Stratford looking to continue on their winning ways while NPBHS look to make it two from two over Ha¯ wera at Webster Field.